Colorado pics

I've finally gotten some pictures to scan. The first ones are from Garden of the Gods Park. It has magnificent sandstone rock formations. http://www.gardenofgods.com/home/index.cfm

Some pics of Balanced Rock:

That's Michele's 2 sons on the right.

Michele and sons with Cathedral Valley in the background.

Pike's Peak was awesome. http://www.pikespeakcolorado.com/ It was so neat driving around Colorado Springs. There were times that it just got closer and closer as you drove...like you were going to drive right into it.There were many places you could get a picture of Pike's Peak.

The Olympic Training Center was one of the first places we toured. http://www.usoc.org/12181_19096.htm

We got to see the training areas for many of the Olympic competitors. We, also, got to talk to some that were training, as well as coaches. There was an interactive area where you could test your physical abilities, which was quite fun.

Pikes's Peak Avenue was near the training center and the daily drive.

We got to visit Focus on the Family (http://www.family.org/) and Visitor Center on Saturday. They had so much to see and a lot of fun things for children. Michele said she takes Matthew and Aaron there to play when it is very cold while she sits close by and reads.

This is a monument of James Dobson, Sr. He was quite an accomplished artist and painter. Many of his paintings were displayed. I'm fascinated by artwork and paintings. I could have stayed in there for hours just looking at his paintings and those of others who have done special works for Focus on the Family. It was like visiting an art gallery.

One morning Michele took me through the World Prayer Center. There has been a global community of thousands experiencing real-time prayer through the Center and their website: http://theworldprayercenter.org/
The Prayer Center "is open for the dedicated purpose of continual prayer, praise and worship".

Another tourist attraction that was within driving distance of Colorado Springs was Bishop Castle. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bishop_Castle

It was a wonderful trip. Though, I have to say the highlight was probably being able to watch Michele's 15 year old son training with his partner to one day compete in the Olympics in Ice Dance. It was a great privilege to watch him in his practices with his coaches and to observe him one day as he tested to advance to Junior Nationals.

Home Again

I'm now home after spending 11 days with my daughter and family. It was so good to be able to spend the time with her and Monkey Girl...as well as the Monkey Boys and Sarge.

Baby Girl

Well, there's nothing like a newborn baby to lift your spirits, especially if it's your very own granddaughter. Yes, she was born Friday night. She and Mom are doing just fine. I have the privilege of being with them for a week to help take care of them, the Monkey Boys, included...oh, and Sarge, too. So now it's 3 & 3...3 super grandsons and 3 delightful granddaughters. Oh what fun! Just had to share the wonderful news with everybody while I had a chance!

Run to God

"Trust God from the bottom of your heart; don't try to figure out everything on your own. Listen for God's voice in everything you do, everywhere you go; he's the One who will keep you on track. Don't assume that you know it all. Run to God! Run from evil!" Proverbs 3:5-7. (The Message)

Who Am I

My dear daughter shared an email with me today from a women who has battled brain cancer for two years. Here is a quote from her email that speaks volumes to me:
"Who am I to question God, the maker of heaven and earth? He who fills the clouds with rain and snow? He who tells the oceans where to stop? He who created our world and every plant and creature on it? He who has carried me (not just walked with me, but CARRIED me), through all my previous challenges only to be covered with blessing on the other side. All I can say is Praise the Lord! Praise the Lord, O my soul. I will praise the Lord all my life: I will sing praise to my God as long as I live! "

The source of hope

This was the verse in an email devotional today:

"They cried to the Lord in their trouble, and he saved them from their distress. He sent forth his word and healed them, he rescued them from the grave."
Psalm 107:19-20 (NIV)

It went well with a Max Lucado passage quote I, also, read today, "And we are forced to see him for what he claims to be: our hope."

We never know what 'trouble' may come our way. Oh, we can all know there has been, is being, or will be some sort of 'trouble' we will face in this lifetime. It has been so important for me to keep ever before me that He is my hope and salvation...that I'm not consumed by the troubles brought into my life. If not for His faithfulness, I would have been consumed. He sends forth His Word. That's His way of reassuring us that He is our hope. His Word is alive. Let it speak to your heart.

Practicing the Presence

Good words from Max Lucado:

Practicing the Presence
by Max Lucado

How do I live in God’s presence? How do I detect his unseen hand on my shoulder and his inaudible voice in my ear? A sheep grows familiar with the voice of the shepherd. How can you and I grow familiar with the voice of God?
Here are a few ideas:
Give God your waking thoughts.
Before you face the day, face the Father. Before you step out of bed, step into his presence. I have a friend who makes it a habit to roll out of his bed onto his knees and begin his day in prayer. Personally, I don’t get that far. With my head still on the pillow and my eyes still closed, I offer God the first seconds of my day. The prayer is not lengthy and far from formal. Depending on how much sleep I got, it may not even be intelligible. Often it’s nothing more than “Thank you for a night’s rest. I belong to you today.”
Give God your waiting thoughts.
Spend time with him in silence. The mature married couple has learned the treasure of shared silence; they don’t need to fill the air with constant chatter. Just being together is sufficient. Try being silent with God. “Be still, and know that I am God” (Ps. 46:10 niv). Awareness of God is a fruit of stillness before God.
Give God your whispering thoughts. Through the centuries Christians have learned the value of brief sentence prayers, prayers that can be whispered anywhere, in any setting.
Imagine considering every moment as a potential time of communion with God. By giving God your whispering thoughts, the common becomes uncommon. Simple phrases such as “Thank you, Father,” “Be sovereign in this hour, O Lord,” “You are my resting place, Jesus” can turn a commute into a pilgrimage. You needn’t leave your office or kneel in your kitchen. Just pray where you are. Let the kitchen become a cathedral or the classroom a chapel. Give God your whispering thoughts.
And last, give God your waning thoughts.
At the end of the day, let your mind settle on him. Conclude the day as you began it: talking to God. Thank him for the good parts. Question him about the hard parts. Seek his mercy. Seek his strength. And as you close your eyes, take assurance in the promise: “He who watches over Israel will neither slumber nor sleep” (Ps. 121:4 niv). If you fall asleep as you pray, don’t worry. What better place to doze off than in the arms of your Father.

From Just Like Jesus, Copyright (W Publishing Group, 1998, 2001) Max Lucado

There is now no condemnation

"Steadfastness in believing doth not exclude all temptations from without. When we say a tree is firmly rooted, we do not say the wind never blows upon it."  John Owen

Inspiring--Cancer's Unexpected Blessings

Here is a link to an article written by Tony Snow about dealing with cancer in his life. It is inspirational. A little long but worth the read.
http://www.christianitytoday.com/ct/2007/july/25.30.html

My Father Loves Me

I'm back from my Colorado trip. It was great, and I had a great time. I don't have pics that I can post yet, but soon.

God is so good. Even in Colorado He let me know how much He loves me and is aware of the struggle I have had in believing Him fully. I went with my friend and her husband to their church on Friday night after I got there. Her pastor prayed for me. Before he even knew my circumstances he said, "You're more to God than you think you are. Jesus is very important to you." After he asked about my recent circumstances and I explained a bit about my struggle to believe God's word to me, he said, "Ask God to help you to believe. In the natural you will have those battles. Faith will rise up in you because there is a gift of faith. You're his daughter, and He can't refuse you." Okay, how would this man know how much the reference of daughter has been brought to me over and over in the last few months. But God...that's how. God uses one special word over and over to confirm His working in me...in spite of myself. I love my Father. My Father loves me!

"The LORD your God is with you, he is mighty to save. He will take great delight in you, he will quiet you with his love, he will rejoice over you with singing."
Zephaniah 3:17 (NIV)